Last of the Mohicans. . . .

[danny_mac3]

This is the first thread I have ever started here, and I am doing so because I am curious about something. Whatever happened to Clint Mathis on the U.S. team? I realize he is not a popular figure on these boards, but I remember his wonderful goal against Korea and watching video of him tear through MLS defenses. I also remember his wonderful touch, vision, and those aren't necessarily things you teach.

So what happened? I know he was injured, but I could name dozens of players who came back from injuries like he had.

I ask because I rememebr articles about him here in France, and people were saying he was the next big american player. It helped when he had teh distinguishable mohawk because people could regognize him even more.

So please, no crazy responses, I am just curious what happened to him? Drugs? Alcohol? Work ethic? Falling out with the National Team coach?
Any information would be helpful.

[MarioKempes]

This is the first thread I have ever started here, and I am doing so because I am curious about something. Whatever happened to Clint Mathis on the U.S. team? I realize he is not a popular figure on these boards, but I remember his wonderful goal against Korea and watching video of him tear through MLS defenses. I also remember his wonderful touch, vision, and those aren't necessarily things you teach.

So what happened? I know he was injured, but I could name dozens of players who came back from injuries like he had.

I ask because I rememebr articles about him here in France, and people were saying he was the next big american player. It helped when he had teh distinguishable mohawk because people could regognize him even more.

So please, no crazy responses, I am just curious what happened to him? Drugs? Alcohol? Work ethic? Falling out with the National Team coach?
Any information would be helpful.

He's not the player he was due to injuries, lack of motivation, etc. His time with the NT is over now.

[Dr.Phil]

lack of motivation,.


this is why

[russ]

A very famous on BS incident where he insulted his coach in hanover after scoring a goal led to his move back to the US.

Looking back it's very possible that his disrespect to his club coach led to a decline in Arena's estimation of him.

[danny_mac3]

Oh yes, didn'the tap his watch or something after he scored. That played on the sports highlights here for a week or so, and I got somer ribbing for it from my mates. "Americans are disrespectful, blah, blah."

Would another National Team coach call him in, or have his skills diminished so much that he is done at 28?

[InnocentBystander]

A good question, danny_mac. There hasn't been a serious discussion about Clint's future on the MNT for a year or so.

In short: it's over. Bruce hasn't invited Clint to any of the recent camps. The untelevised Columbia friendly (in LA?) was the last I remember Clint on the Nats. Possibly the last Gold Cup.

Why? Form and attitude. Maybe someone else can comment on Clint's current frame of mind, but his form sure looked off the last couple of appearances for the Nats. He looked tentative, which is unusual for Clint. He's the kind of player that needs lots of confidence to play his game - quick passing, surprise runs, long distance shooting, etc. He also looks like he's not nearly as quick as he was in 2000-02. That can't help his confidence.

Clint was a blip on the USMNT radar - a very good player for a very short period of time.

[russ]

Not his skills as much as fitness.He is also on a poor team.

Even when he was working his way into the US picture pre2002,he was maddeningly inconsistent.Many of these posts were lost in the great server crash of 01-02.

[sidefootsitter]

Plus, he had a very inconsistent MLS year and that doesn't even count his explosion vs. Chivas where he managed to grab someone else's private parts in retaliation. The ensuing red card probably closed the doors on his Nat career for good. (unless he goes to France and turns Lille into a CL Final team or something like that)

[danny_mac3]

(unless he goes to France and turns Lille into a CL Final team or something like that)

Actually, he could go to Marseille. They have NOTHING in midfield and he couldn't hurt. Plus they'll take anybody. Even nut-grabbing, mohawk-wearing, free-kick blasting Americans.

[Scoobs]

Mediocre to poor work rate and fitness on the field. Off the field he has been
criticized by coaches for lack of attention to nutrition and fitness.

That's all good if you're in your early twenties and haven't had an major
injury issues. It's all about potential (e.g. Justin Mapp). Reconstructive knee
surgery and an aging body reguire a lot more and Mathis couldn't provide
this.

[pokemoncards]

Plus, he had a very inconsistent MLS year and that doesn't even count his explosion vs. Chivas where he managed to grab someone else's private parts in retaliation. The ensuing red card probably closed the doors on his Nat career for good. (unless he goes to France and turns Lille into a CL Final team or something like that)

he didn't actually do that, romo pretended he did and the red bought it

[SUSIE-Q]

This is what made him do all kinda crazy things : coaches didn't give him a start for the game anymore ( he sat on the bench everywhere ), whether in the national team or the club, that what made his blood boils and started doing some crazy things, so, i kinda blame Bruce Arena and Hannover's coach for his failure. You see, people are different, if that happen to me it's probably ok but, him will be different, that's the bottom line.

[danny_mac3]

It's a strange fact (henry is an exception to this) that very talented players have a bit of craziness in them, i.e. the mohawk, tapping the watch, etc.

Here we have Anelka, Pires, even Vieira sometimes. It's kind of liek the chicken and the egg problem. Which came first the great footballer or the ego....

I would say you need both to succeed and soem manage it better than others. Maybe that's Clint's problem. His strength is his weakness. Uhhh, yeah, now I sound like Kain on Kung-Fu. Signing off now.

[lmorin]

This is what made him do all kinda crazy things : coaches didn't give him a start for the game anymore ( he sat on the bench everywhere ), whether in the national team or the club, that what made his blood boils and started doing some crazy things, so, i kinda blame Bruce Arena and Hannover's coach for his failure. You see, people are different, if that happen to me it's probably ok but, him will be different, that's the bottom line.
Yeah, right! Blame his coaches for his misbehavior. Blame his coaches for his poor soccer. Yeah, right! He's a professsional. If he can't play better than someone else in the squad who is also angling for his position or he is too disruptive of team spirit, then too bad. He's shot himself in the foot multiple times. I'm truly sorry the situation is not otherwise because, at his best, he was scintillating.

[Rahbiefowlah]

da sensei mia

[Scoobs]

The 'craziness' hasn't been his downfall.

[Mattbro]

Yeah, right! Blame his coaches for his misbehavior. Blame his coaches for his poor soccer. Yeah, right! He's a professsional. If he can't play better than someone else in the squad who is also angling for his position or he is too disruptive of team spirit, then too bad. He's shot himself in the foot multiple times. I'm truly sorry the situation is not otherwise because, at his best, he was scintillating.

You know, Suzie Q has a point. At one point Bayern Munich apparently wanted to sign Clint - and Arena stepped in and basically said "You wouldn't want him, his work ethic is terrible." I don't remember the direct quote, but it does seem like his market value dropped like a rock after that comment, and it killed his chances of playing for Bayern. Call him lazy, tell him he has a poor attitude, but the dude displayed some absolutely magical moments. Even as recently as a couple of years ago in Hannover, he scored some highlight-reel goals, and was benched by (his new coach) Ewald Lienen nonetheless. Not everyone reacts the same to adversity. For some it is a motivator, for others it is not. I wouldn't say it is completely unrealistic that comments by Arena started his downfall, particularly as he showed that even despite his poor work ethic, he was capable of changing a game with a single play.

[Scoobs]

Well Ellinger gave him $400K per year guaranteed deal thinking along those
same lines. Mathis still fcked up. I don't think it's an adversity or coaching
thing.

[Red Card]

I would like to see him make a move back to Europe during the Jan transfer window. MLS is not the place for him. As for the nats, it seems clear that Bruce thinks he upsets the chemistry. Anyway he now plays a central midfield role that is occupied by Reyna and JOB with Convey, Olsen, and Dempsey competing for backup roles.

He certainly will be missed by fans who have not seen the nats since 2002.

[Scoobs]

Mathis doesn't have the work ethic to succeed in Europe. At least not in a
serious D-1 league.